A Collaborative Divorce contains the following elements:

• No contested court hearings. Even temporary arrangements will be negotiated.
  
• Both sides must make full and complete disclosure and fully cooperate with all reasonable discovery requests on an informal basis.
  
• No formal discovery.
  
• No "attack" letters, threats or intimidation.
  
• No unilateral appraisals. All appraisals will be joint.

Advantages of Collaborative Divorce:

• It allows people to have professional representation and advice without the fear that lawyers will throw gasoline on the fire.
  
• It avoids the unnecessary costs to parties which are incurred by trial preparation when the case is continually adjourned or settled short of trial.
  
• It avoids the emotional costs incurred by the fear and threats of going to trial.
  
• It forces the parties and their attorneys to concentrate on problem solving.
  
• It is conducive to a more cordial future relationship of people who have children in common and therefore will have a relationship after the legal case goes away.